Behavioral analysis and productive performance of piglets in the post-weaning phase in enriched environments

Autores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7213/1981-4178.2019.17009

Palavras-chave:

Ethology. Stress. Swine. Welfare

Resumo

This study aimed to assess the effect of environmental enrichment on the behavior and productive performance of castrated piglets, both males and females, from 21 to 35 days of age. For this, 45 animals were randomly distributed in three treatments (control, environmental enrichment with pet bottle, and suspended rope), five replicates, and three animals per experimental unit. The experiment lasted 14 days, with 30 minutes of daily observation, and the observations were performed by the focal animal and behavior relative sampling. The data were recorded about the interactions with the objects, stereotypes, social and agonistic interactions, and animal activities. The productive performance was assessed by weighing three animals of the experimental unit, and their feed at the beginning and at the end of the experiment. We evaluated the daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion. A descriptive analysis of the behavioral data was performed. The performance data were evaluated by analysis of variance. The comparison between the treatments was performed by Tukey test at 5% probability. Animals that received either the pet bottle or the suspended rope did not show a significant difference in social, agonistic, and physiologist interactions, but the results showed a significant difference in ludic interactions. Animals that did not receive any environmental enrichment displayed higher rates of stereotypes and aggressive behaviors. There was no effect (p > 0.05) of the treatments on the daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion. Environmental enrichment improves the welfare of piglets by increasing physiological, social, and playful behaviors (positive), and decreasing stereotypy and agonistic behaviors (negative), but it does not influence the productive performance of animals.

Downloads

Não há dados estatísticos.

Biografia do Autor

Zara Alves Lacerda, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC)

1Student of Veterinary Medicine Course

Cinthia Maria Carlos Pereira, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz

Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences

Camila Meneghetti, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC)

Department of Agrarian and Environmental Sciences

Lucas Pereira de Souza Silva, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC)

Student of Veterinary Medicine Course

Tássio Chaves Santos, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (UESC)

Student of Veterinary Medicine Course

Downloads

Publicado

06-06-2019

Como Citar

1.
Alves Lacerda Z, Pereira CMC, Balbino EM, Meneghetti C, Silva LP de S, Chaves Santos T. Behavioral analysis and productive performance of piglets in the post-weaning phase in enriched environments. Rev. Acad. Ciênc. Anim. [Internet]. 6º de junho de 2019 [citado 4º de novembro de 2024];17:1-7. Disponível em: https://periodicos.pucpr.br/cienciaanimal/article/view/24289

Edição

Seção

Artigo